Solid Premier League debut 👊

Adams fires wide

So close to a first Saints goal for the substitute. He links well with Armstrong, turns and shoots from distance. But it's marginally off target.

79’

Southampton substitution:Oriol RomeureplacesWill Smallbone

Final swap.

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72’

Southampton substitution:Michael ObafemireplacesShane Long

Second change.

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72’

Southampton substitution:Ché AdamsreplacesDanny Ings

First change for Saints.

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71’

Yellow Card forJosé Reina(Aston Villa)

For a foul on Long.

70’

Reina denies Bertrand

Armstrong works the ball to the full-back, who shoots, but the sting was taken out of it by Hause.

68’

Bright spell from Villa

Samatta forces a corner off Jack Stephens, which is taken short to Grealish. He tries to force a pass across the six yard line but there's plenty of red and white shirts in his way.

59’

Aston Villa substitution:Conor HourihanereplacesEzri Konsa Ngoyo

Second change for the visitors.

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Wayward from Djenepo

He's having a real impact on the game from wide left, as he cuts inside and shoots with his right. Off target this time. Højbjerg tries his luck in the next wave of attack and forces another good save from Reina.

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56’

Stephens chance

He latches onto a wonderful delivery from Bertrand, but hooks his effort narrowly over the bar. Saints in ascendance again, as Armstrong sneaks in behind, in front of Reina, but hits the side netting from a tight angle.

52’

Lovely play

The hosts beginning the second half much in the same way as they ended the previous one. Prowsey with another corner, which Højbjerg met and deflected off Marvelous. Ings with the follow up, blocked.

50’

Djenepo intercepts

And sets Saints on their way. He plays it wide to Long, who hit a first time pass towards the runners infield. Luiz stretches a leg to deal with it, and diverts the ball for a corner.

HT

Ready for the second half?

We are! Saints get us back under way. No changes for either side. Shane Long's goal remains the difference...

HALF-TIME: Saints 1-0 Villa

Very productive first 45 from the hosts. Dominated in every sense of the word. Shane Long with the opener, and could have been more after chances fell the way of Djenepo and Ings. Just the one goal separating the sides at the break.

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+3’

Yellow Card forEzri Konsa Ngoyo(Aston Villa)

For a foul on Djenepo.

+2’

Strong finish

The hosts ending the half strongly. They've dominated possession for the majority of the first 45 minutes. Bertrand's corner is the latest chance, calls for hand ball, but nothing given.

43’

Long slices wide

Superb midfield play from Armstrong, who runs at the Villa defence and forces them to retreat. Options to his left and right, he chooses to play Long wide right, but the forward slices wide.

🤕

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39’

Wild from Bertrand

Bednarek calmly brings the ball down and plays it into the path of the full-back. He shoots but blazes the effort way over the bar.

38’

Samatta has the ball in the net

He latches onto a through ball from Grealish, and slot past McCarthy, but the flag was up early. Good line from Saints.

36’

Grealish free-kick

Dangerous position, edge of the Saints 18 yard. Djenepo has re-entered the field of play having been bandaged up. Villa free-kick comes to nothing and Saints have regained possession.

33’

Djenepo receiving treatment

Break in play as Moussa Djenepo clashes with Marvelous and is down receiving treatment. Looks to have a cut above his eye.

Holding his own

Will Smallbone competing well in midfield. Saints looking comfortable in possession, but should having a larger advantage after creating chances aplenty.

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27’

Aston Villa substitution:Mahmoud Ibrahim HassanreplacesAnwar El Ghazi

Forced changed.

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23’

Saints pressurising

Another chance for a second goal goes begging. Pepe Reina with his third big save of the half. This time he denies Djenepo with a big left hand - although Ings looked to be offside in the build up.

20’

Glorious chance

Opportunity for Saints to double their lead. Ings gets the first chance, but Reina stands tall and saves with his legs. The ball eventually breaks to Djenepo eight yards from goal, but he blazes over.

📸

Grealish fouled

Prowsey rather heavy handed with the midfielder, and fouls him. Free-kick given, nothing more. He's keeping close tabs on the Villa captain.

14’

Lovely turn from Djenepo

The winger fashions a chance from almost nothing, rolling Luiz in midfield and releasing Bertrand. He didn't have much by way of support so elected to shoot, and hit the side netting. It's all Saints currently.

11’

Corner

Matt Targett wins a corner for the visitors. Swung in by captain Jack Grealish, attacked by a host of bodies in light blue but ultimately punched away by Alex McCarthy. Saints break with Højbjerg, but the opportunity is wasted.

GOALSCORER7ShaneLong

DEADLOCK BROKEN

Djenepo gets to the byline and pulls the ball back for Longy at the near post, it almost hits him and goes in - but right place right time and Saints lead!

8’

GOOOAL!!!

Shane Long (8’)|1 – 0

6’

Smallbone strikes the post

Djenepo worked the ball well to the youngster, making his Premier League debut, and his shot takes a deflection and then hits the woodwork. Resulting corner doesn't come to much.

4’

Prowsey special

The midfielder, filling in at full-back today, whips the ball to the near post. It's again headed by Mings, out for a corner. Bertrand this time crosses centrally but again it's cleared.

3’

Smallbone wins a free-kick

Promising area too, having snuck the ball through the legs of Douglas Luiz. Ward-Prowse delivers from wide right and it's met by the head of Tyrone Mings. Half chance for Saints.

1’

We're under way

Formalities complete and the visitors get us up and running. Jack Grealish is first on the assault, before Stuart Armstrong gets a sniff of a chance up the other end.

Warms up complete...

We're ready for kick-off here at St Mary's!

15.00

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hopefully he can play without being too nervous, and show what he can do. he must stick to the plan and i think, if he does, he will have a good game today.

Get clued up 🤓

It’s back to back home games for Southampton as we take on Aston Villa at St Mary's. Get ready for the game with our Match Pack, in association with eToro...

13.49

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Today's stage...

The calm before the matchday storm! 🌪

13.33

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VOTE NOW

Saints won the reverse fixture at Villa Park in December 3-1, but who scored the goals?

Danny Ings and Shane Long

Jack Stephens and Shane Long

Danny Ings and Jan Bednarek

Jan Bednarek and Shane Long

Danny Ings and Jack Stephens

Saints won the reverse fixture at Villa Park in December 3-1, but who scored the goals?

The results so far:

Danny Ings and Shane Long

20%

Jack Stephens and Shane Long

8%

Danny Ings and Jan Bednarek

12%

Jan Bednarek and Shane Long

0%

Danny Ings and Jack Stephens

60%

This poll is closed

📍 St Mary's Stadium

Southampton's players check in at St Mary's ahead of today's Premier League action.

13.28

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South coast clubs collide 🤜🤛

Southampton's Under-23s played AFC Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium last night. Check out highlights from the game...

12.45

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In every position we have two players and there are a few young guys who are pushing to get a chance. so the atmosphere is good.

ralph hasenhüttl

on the shape of his squad

12.42

Hasenhüttl assesses Villa test 🗣

The manager looks ahead to today's Premier League visit of Aston Villa...

12.41

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Sneak peak inside today's dressing room 👀

Who would you have in your starting XI today, Saints fans?

12.07

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This week's prep 💪

Take a look through this week's preparation from Staplewood Campus...

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Southampton FC @SouthamptonFC

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#SaintsFC are back at St Mary's for a big clash with #AVFC! 👊 https://t.co/d0MKEesVRE

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𝓢𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓼 𝓿𝓼 𝓐𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓷 𝓥𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓪 👊

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MATCHDAY 😍

Welcome to another St Mary's matchday! Today Saints host Aston Villa, having just fallen short against Burnley a week prior. The visitors come into the tie off the back of a 3-2 loss to Spurs, where Son scored a last gasp winner. We'll have all the build up to kick-off, team news, and live in-game updates. Stay tuned...